Key holder



Sept `3, 1946. A HANNA v 2,401,153

KEY HLDER Filed oet. 24, 1944 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY HOLDER Atto N. Hanna, Atlantic Highlands, N. J.

Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,145

(Cl. l-456).

7 Claims.

The invention relates to key holders, and more particularly to a key holder of the type in which a plurality of keys are detachably mounted for independet movement, by means of split, looped key carriers detachably secured to a slotted fitting.

In key holders of the type to which the invention relates, accidental escape of the carriers from the fitting is prevented by a slidable or a pivotal retainer plate capable of opening or of closing the slots in the tting in which the key carriers are mounted, and permitting free movement of any carrier in relation to the others in the iitting. When a slidable retainer plate is used,V no means has been provided for preventing accidental movement of the plate. When a pivotally mounted retainer plate was used, this plate was usually moved against spring tension into a position to close the various slots and held in this position bya latch mechanism, the release of which permitted the spring to open all slots and thus permit the removal of or the mounting of key carrier loops in the slotted fitting.

With either type of retainer plate mechanism above referred to, there is always likelihood of accidental actuation of the plate by contact with surrounding objects with the resultant possible escape from the fitting of one or more of the key carriers. To guard against this, the usual practice is to provide the key holder with an enveloping case of leather or other material.

It is well known that when a woman desires to remove an article from her hand bag, she usually has diliiculty in finding such article and has to handle numerous other articles while locating that required. Such rumbling amongst articles in a hand bag is very apt to actuate the retainer plate in a key holder of the type above referred to and permit the escape of a key carrier or carrers into the hand bag.

With the above conditions in mind, I have produced a key holder having a slidable retainer,

member, manually actuated by a positively acting,lselflocking mechanism which has no springs and cannot bel accidentally actuated to permit the escape of the key carriers. A key holder embodying the invention has three sheet metal parts, two

fitting in relation to the other plate of the iitting without requiring a special operation or additional parts.

The construction of the key holder of the invention is such that it may be detachably mounted Within and adjacent the frame of, a ladys hand bag where it will be conveniently accessible when wanted without search of the bag or disturbance of other articles therein. By suspending the holder within the bag access may be had to other articles and the key holder may be removed from a bag without moving such other articles. The use of a positively acting, self-locking retainer plate permits access to other articles in a bag without likelihood of the accidental actuation of the retainer plate to open the slots in the base iitting so as to permit the escape of a key carrier into the bag.

A key holder embodying the invention is not only simple in construction and attractive in design, but the parts thereof may be quickly and economically produced and assembled.

In a holder embodying the invention, I preferably use a looped key carrier, the ends of which entering the slotted head of the base fitting, while necessarily divided to permit the placing of a key in the loop, are so formed as to not only permit free substantially universal movement of the carrier but to prevent any relative movement of either end of the loop in relation to the other,

both axially and radially of the tubular head of the base iitting.

The invention consists primarily in a key holder embodying therein a base fitting having a tubular head provided with a plurality of segmental, circumferential slots each having an enlarged portion, each of said slots being adapted to receive a looped key carrier, a semi-cylindrical retainer slide having a plurality of spaced wards adapted to obstruct the enlarged portions of said slots respectively, a plate secured to said head, co-operating means on said base litting and said retaining slide for guiding and limiting the movement of lsaid slide, and positively acting, self-locking means vfor actuating said slide; and in such other novel features ofv construction and combination of partsf as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referringto the drawing,

vFig. 1 is a view in elevation of-a fragmentary portion of the frame of a womans hand bag having a `key holder embodying the invention attached in relation thereto;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the base fitting shown partly broken away and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the base tting with the retainer slide in position in the tubular head of the fitting;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the guide and stop plate of the base fitting;

Fig. 5 is a detail View of the retainer slide partly broken away to disclose the details of the actuating mechanism; and

Figs. 6, 7 andgare front, side and perspective views of the Vupper end of a, key carrier v'looptv Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, a fragmentary.-

portion of the frame of a womans hand bag is shown at l0.

means of which a key holder embodying {the-.invention may be suspended Within the bag adjacent `its top so that it not. onlyis heldapart from other articleszinthe baggbut is readilyaccessible.

when a bag is opened.

The key holder ras shown; in, thedraw-ingeni- The ,Iisaidnianges and the 'flower portion of-.the Y' plate- I'Igare symmetrical;#infcontour togive an attractive nish-to-theholder.;

The enlargements I4 are adjacent r,one @fz thel flanges as Thel plated 'I fhasf-,anextensionwfl 8 'tbeyond the ilanges g I -I iandihas.: securedithereto :a illexibleiVV tab I9 carrying....a.part :of: the snap,` fastener 520,1,

riali..

Sli'dablym'ounted` withinithefheadi I2 lis'raiseg.:

plurality, of :wards 23 Lcorresponding:iny vnumber and rspacing. with the .sltsf I 3. The. :plate lor-slide i. isiof. sheetff'metal:havingz'fcutoutf.portionsf24 be..

tween .thevvards of substantiallythesame dimen-` sions las thev enlargements I 4- of the slots I 3 with which theyareadapted to bebroughtintoregister l to -allow key carriers-to `be lmounted-in,` or removed from; the 'base tting,j

The slide 22`is` provided Withaange 25h`av-Y ing a slidingfit between lthe, headflanges, I5--I6.

whichare spacedapart by the plate. I'I tolan extent yto.,ensure .a close sl-idingt betweenKJ said flange :25 andthe flanges I 5-I Ii,`

To .impart `.movement .to the slide 22 forposi.-A tioningA the` wards. 23 so as tofobstruct oraeXDOSe: the various enlargements I4 of ,therslots I3,iI"

provide a manually operative, positivelyracting and:self-locking.4 actuatingr mechanism'.v for said slide.1 As shown in the drawing, this Ymechanism comprises a uthumb screw 26 connected` to one end i of the head I2 by screw-threadsland lto said' slide by a-swivellingg connection`^28 with an lend disk 29 carried bysaid guard'slide 22.'

While: the mannerfof. attachinggthe .itab'rl 9 s to? lthe plate t is iimmaterial c to the@ invention; I preferably; provide the @extension I 8 with: .ai .slot 21. through'lwhich l.the material of: the tab :'.I 9 f-may'f' bei passed: andhave its endsunitedgby `the asnap; fastenerzpart.to1close..the lbight. irl/the strip .matee Secured to said framef;bysmeans:A L of its trim, is a flexible tab...II .having.secured. thereto one of the parts of 'a snap fastener by 50' mental guard slide 22, shown in FigrfSj'lhavinga .1

The top edge of the flange 25 engages the bottom edge of the plate I1 and the screw 26, alone or in conjunction with the end disk 23, prevents displacement of the slide Within the head I2. In this manner the guard slide 22 is limited to a right line movement by the screw 26.

To limit the lineal movement of the slide 22 by the screw 26 to that required to position the wards; 23 so `as ltoobstruct or: to clearrthe ;,various enlargements I* of thesl'ots I3; I provide cooperating means upon the base fitting and upon said slide which as shown consists of a stop tongue 30 .projecting from the edge of the flange 25 so as to be engageable with spaced stop shoulders 3I-.32fat.opposite ends of an angular recess 33 in the bottom of the guide and stop plate I1.

The head rI2`is adapted to hold in each slot I3, a looped. key carrier of springy material. Each carrier has a divided end towards which the sides of I.the loop are constricted.. The ,ends of afloop are :sprung ,apart vwhen mounting la key rin,qor: re-.- movingit from;y 4the. -car-rier, and automatically closegwhen, released. .after :such separation; The 2 divided-.end of the carrier isz provided withan en-,M largement of dimensions to pass freely through4V anopening I4 to ,-within the xtubularrhea'dJZ, the constrictedtportion of y.the.1oop, .being lofedimenf' f sionstte pass through a slot I3-and.permit:a;sub" stantially I:universal movement,r of the-carrier :in: relation :to .said head; Infakey holder embodyingl the. invention, I preferably-use.a-llooped keycarf, Y rier 33;- the free ends-.ot which. are fformedwso'ias. to provide the endsf when closeda with',.,a.v shortr substantially cylindrical end formedAT byfcurvedi" portions 34e-35p ,of a. length: and'. ar diameter :tof: passifreelythrough: an enlarged portion-Miur af. slot .I3 :but not through the'slotitself;2 The adjaff cent e .end portions .off the loopt aren-flattened and comlrer-gedf-so'7 as topass freely? through a: slot@ I 3 Y and merge into 4'the cylindricaland tubular 'head portion-.in;a curve-.fr This permits*therlooptofturnn freely about the axis oizthe'rhead'IZ andrswingu. at an: angle Y in: relation. to @such axis; vboth movements beingglimitedbysgthe'edges:of thegslot I3 rorzA af iwardz ,23 of ,the -guard.; slide u2 2.' 'Io :prevent:` aceidental-zopening of: Ia loopiwhilein: therheadz'l 2 :f as -a' result ofV side-slippage lofi onefarmfiof iaiv loop :e inf relation-a to; theszothemand: itst.; escape through@ aslotml 3; I provide :interlockingimeansruponfthe head portions.: ofi: :the loop tconsistingxofoaz re cessi. 36im1one. of ;the.T curvedzportionsz. as 35;.1andfa tongue'.z 31 upon the 'i other: curved' portion;=l 34,2. adapted to fsenteirthe recess aand .prevent move mentzof. either end:independently".'ofrfthe other* When'the loopds elosedaf..

Thenheadv Jfitting:.includingthe @tubular 'slotted portion;` I2 Tand: itsL flanges..V I 51-I 6 ,f1 tlie'fguide' and stopIS-plate |.'I andthe. guard -'slide'A 2 2 'preferably -1 are each made of sheet'f metaland may bel economically 'blank'edf' pierced land# -`formed with uniformity 'andl accuracy:y By-thus standardizing a` few parts'rof` simple'design; whether'maderof' metal '-or-A other ^suitable'materialfl no adjustingv1 or `ttingof parts is :required during assembly and ease '--of AYop'erationlis assured-without the use of lubricantsi PreparatoryI to vassembly -of/ parts; the thumbfJ screw 26 is' lmour1ted-b'y-its -swivellingwconnectidn' 28 wit-lrl the iendv disk-2lf`of Lthe' guardslide 22 Thefslide is then slipped' intothetubular 'headi I 2 and-"its screwithreadsf engagedi'with theiscrev" threaded` 'portion ,2T at the 'end offsaidli'ead J2" with'x the top flange. 25'of fthe, sli'de' `between ,the flanges .I 5^-I Slof the head.- The .lowerpart of the'guide and 'stop plate ITis then passed 'btween LthenflangesV I 5---16` until its flower! 'edge if engagesthe top edgefofifthe -fiangeZtiwith thee shoulders 3I--32 of plate I1 positioned at oppositesidesof the itongue V30. 4- The flangesfl 5- I6 and plateflil are lthen riveted together;

A'strip -of lflekible 'materialwhich may beselected to VaccordV with `the material--forming- 'the lining and trim of al hang bag is then passed; through the slot"2 I inithe extension of the plate I'I `and the bight ofthe material closed by means. of the snap fastener 2U.' f l 4When it isl desired to mount akey carrier in, i, or remove -it from, the base tting, the screw 26 i is turned to'draw the guard slide22 to the right, Fig. 1,.witha right line movement due .to the engagement `of the edge ofthe flange 25 with the edge of the guideand-stop'- platell'l. l Turning `of4 the slide 22 in the head His-prevented bythe fianges-I--IB- between which the iiange 25 is conned and has movement.

This positions the various wards 23 at one side of the enlarged openings I4 substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the tongue with the stop shoulder 32 on the plate I'I thus providing space for the insertion of the head of a key carrier to within the tubular head I2. By turning the screw 26 in the opposite direction, a reverse right line movement is imparted to the slide 22, engagement of the tongue 30 with the stop shoulder 3| limiting the amountof such movement. Whether or not the slide is moved to the full permissible extent, the various wards 23 are so positioned to obstruct the openings I4 to an extent to prevent accidental escape of a key carrier from the base fitting.

The tongue 30 on the guard slide 22 and the' shoulders 3I--32 on the plate I'I not only limit the lineal movement of the slide 22 but limit the screw action so as to prevent the escape of the slide from the head I2 due to the screw 26.

By using a screw threaded actuating mechanism for the guard slide 22 as described, a positive, gradual application of power to the slide is utilized and since several turns of the screw 26 are required to impart that movement necessary to position the wards 23 as described, the screw not only serves as a means for actuating the slide but also as a lock for preventing such movement of the slide as will change the position of the wards. With the construction and mode of operation described, accidental movement of the slide to an extent to permit the escape of a key carrier loop from the base fitting is practically impossible.

The key holder being suspended from and detachable in relation tothe top frame Ill of a hand bag, is, when the bag is opened, readily accessible without disturbing other articles in the bag, and in addition to this convenient access to the key holder, likelihood of accidental turning of the screw 26 is negligible.

A key carrier constructed as described, prevents accidental opening of the loop by movement of one arm in relation to the other because of the interlocking tongue 31 and recess 36.

While a key holder made throughout of metal is shown in the drawing, it is obviousthat materials other than metal may be used if desired.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawing, it being obvious that such may be as newrxand desiretozihave; protected by Letters Patentzimf` 1. Aflkey holder," therein;v a :base e' ting having'a tubular; head provided with Aa plurality oflsegmental, circumferential slots `each having an .enlargedportiom eachsof saidslots; being adaptedltoreceive a looped key .'carrier,`

said head havingscrew threads-adjacent one-end retainer slide. i

2. A `key holder embodying therein a base ntting having a tubular-head providedwith parallel flanges andfaplurali'ty of segmental,` circumferential slots each having an enlarged portion, each of said slots being adapted to receive a looped key carrier, said head having screw threads adjacent one end thereof, a semi-cylindrical retainer slide having a plurality of spaced wards adapted to obstruct the enlarged portions of said slots respectively and a ilange having a sliding iit between the flanges of said head, a plate secured to said head engageable with and guiding the movement of said slide, a tongue projecting from the flange of said slide co-operating with spaced shoulders on said plate for limiting the movement of said slide, a manually operative screw mounted in said screw threads, and a swivelling connection between said screw and said retainer slide.

\3. A key holder embodying therein a base fitting having a, tubular head provided with a plurality of segmental, circumferential slots each having an enlarged portion, each of said slots being adapted to receive a looped key carrier, said head having screw threads adjacent one end thereof, a semi-cylindrical retainer slide having a plurality of spaced wards adapted to obstruct the enlarged portions of said slots respectively and a -disk at the end thereof adjacent said screw threads and having a sliding trwithin said head, a plate secured to said head, co-operating means on said base iitting and said retaining slide for guiding and limiting the movement of said slide, a manually operative screw mounted in said screw threads, and a swivelling connection between said screw and said disk,

4. A key holder embodying therein a. base iitting having a. tubular head provided with a, plurality of segmental, circumferential slots each having an enlarged portion, each of said slots being adapted to receive a looped key carrier, a slide member having a plurality of spaced wards adapted to obstruct and a plurality of openings adapted to register with the enlarged portions of said slots, cooperating means on said base fitting Y and slide member for guiding movement of said varied without departing from the spirit and slide member, and screw operated means connecting said base fitting and slide member for forming a device for positively actuating said slide member and for locking the same in its actuated position.

5. A key holder embodying therein a base t- `ting having a tubular head provided with a plurality of segmental, circumferential slots each having an enlarged portion, each of said slots being adapted to receive a looped key carrier, a slide member having a plurality of spaced wards adapted to obstruct anda plurality of openings 

